Ch.258Chapter 258 – A Meeting of Three

The Gelebrio Empire’s higher education institution, responsible for nurturing talent that will shape the empire’s future.

Glesius Academy has numerous facilities installed to assist students with their studies.

A physical training ground for strengthening the body.

A magic laboratory for practicing magic.

An alchemy workshop for conducting alchemy experiments and crafting various tools.

While countless other amenities exist, the most popular facility among students is undoubtedly the “campus store.”

Academy students typically have their meals at the cafeteria, but for those who constantly use their bodies and minds, the meals provided at the dining hall are sometimes insufficient.

The campus store sells numerous items that can quickly replenish energy.

Various snacks, cakes, and sweet beverages are expensive, but they adequately satisfy cravings that cafeteria meals cannot fulfill.

Near the campus store, tables and chairs are set up so students can sit and spend time comfortably.

After lunch or dinner, many students stop by the store to chat, making the area always crowded with students.

And now, a little after dinner time, three female students were gathered at one of the tables near the campus store.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The girls with golden, brown, and orange hair sat silently, looking down at the table.

“Haah……”

The first to speak was the girl with orange hair.

“Why is everyone so down? Why are we gathered here? We came together for a strategy meeting, right? So why is everyone so lifeless? Hmm?”

She seemed quite dissatisfied with everyone sitting quietly without saying anything.

“Reina. It’s not like we’re enjoying sitting here quietly, you know?”

The blonde girl, Elena Sandrios, responded to the orange-haired girl, Reina Eldinar, who had been looking at her.

“Then, do you plan to maintain this silence?”

“Well……”

Elena had no response to Reina’s words.

After all, as Reina pointed out, she had been silent until just now.

And the reason for her silence was that she didn’t know what to say.

“Everyone here is interested in Severio Cou—”

“Marquis.”

“…thanks for the correction. Anyway, we’re all interested in Marquis Severio, right?”

After Mina’s correction, Reina quickly changed from Count Severio to Marquis, but that wasn’t the point she was trying to make.

The three people gathered here.

Mina Endras. Elena Sandrios. Reina Eldinar.

These three shared a common interest in “Pathos Severio.”

However, unlike Mina who had made up her mind, Elena was still wavering, which was the difference between them.

“That’s right. I have feelings for Marquis Severio. Because he helped me, I was able to return here and focus on my studies again.”

Mina was the first to speak up.

She had been expelled from the academy due to false accusations, but thanks to Pathos’s intervention, her expulsion was canceled, allowing her to study magic at the academy again.

She also received significant financial help, so now she lived a life that wasn’t overflowing with wealth but wasn’t lacking either.

A fairy tale prince on a white horse who appeared to her when she had fallen into the depths of despair and gallantly rescued her.

For Mina Endras, that was exactly who Pathos Severio was.

“I’m studying hard to become someone who won’t seem out of place by the Marquis’s side. I’m working hard to achieve that.”

“…I envy that mindset.”

Seeing Mina’s clear motivation, Reina revealed her true feelings.

Unlike Mina, who had a relatively positive first encounter, Reina had an unfortunate incident with Pathos.

Fortunately, Regina intervened before things escalated, and it was treated as if nothing had happened, but since then, Reina couldn’t approach Pathos.

The reason was that she had caused trouble for Pathos due to her misunderstanding, and she felt too ashamed to face him.

So while Mina and Elena grew closer to Pathos, she still couldn’t bridge that distance.

She needed to close that gap to approach him…

Despite having an incredible background as the daughter of Duke Eldinar—something that would make others’ heads turn—her background had no effect on Pathos.

Moreover, her father, though she was his daughter, knew that Reina wasn’t someone who should be involved with Pathos, so he even warned Pathos separately to be careful around his daughter.

And now, among the women around Pathos, two had already captured his heart, and it was clear that another would soon do the same.

Regina Blasteria. The Chancellor of Glesius Academy.

Cheon Hyeryeong. A mysterious martial artist from the Eastern Continent.

Eterna Lumio Sol. The Holy Maiden of the Sun Order and Chief Inquisitor.

In essence, Pathos was loved by heroines from all three fields: mage, martial artist, and priestess.

If she were to insert herself among them, could she truly receive his love?

Not a love that gives everything, but even a fragment of love—could she receive that?

Reina lacked confidence.

“To be honest, I’m anxious. Even if I give it my all and try… will I be able to gain even a little of his attention?”

“Reina……”

At Reina’s words, Elena and Mina’s eyes filled with pity as they looked at her.

Come to think of it, Reina hadn’t had any meetings with Pathos since the incident last year.

Even then, Pathos had left due to urgent matters, leaving things unresolved, and now, almost two years later, she still hadn’t met with him.

“So, I’m planning to volunteer for an external dispatch mission soon.”

“What?”

At the mention of an external dispatch from Reina’s lips, Elena and Mina were so surprised they stood up from their seats.

“What do you mean? Volunteering for an external dispatch mission?”

“Yes. It probably sounds crazy to you too. But you know what? In the current state, this ambiguous relationship will just continue. Rather than that, I think it’s better to spend some time apart.”

Elena and Mina were speechless at Reina’s words.

That’s how confident Reina was in her decision.

Rather than remaining in an ambiguous relationship and just suffering, she would go somewhere else and make him forget about her.

“After he completely forgets about me, and enough time passes for any negative feelings to dilute, I’ll appear before him again.”

“Reina……”

“Reina. If that’s your decision, I’ll respect it.”

“Thank you, Elena. Next year will be our third year, right?”

At Reina’s words, Mina and Elena’s bodies flinched slightly.

Third year.

Elena and Mina knew well what the words from Reina’s mouth meant.

“In the third year, we’ll have to start preparing for graduation in earnest, so the time to meet Marquis Severio will decrease significantly. Therefore, the opportunity is right at the end of the year to the new year.”

Reina looked at the two sitting in front of her with a bitter smile.

“You two. I wish you the best. However, if you show a lukewarm attitude and lose Marquis Severio to someone else, be prepared. I’ll come back as a wonderful person and snatch him away right in front of you.”

At Reina’s declaration that she would take away the person they loved, Mina and Elena smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about that; I’ll definitely win Marquis Severio’s heart.”

“Reina. Do you think there will be a place for you by his side when you return?”

Reina had slightly provoked them hoping they would work hard, but she didn’t expect such a painful retort.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“You should have started off on the right foot.”

“…I have nothing to say. Anyway, I’ll be going now. When we meet again, I hope you both find happiness.”

With these final words, Reina rose from her seat.

Looking at the place Reina had left, Elena and Mina’s eyes held a mix of relief and bittersweet emotions.

With this, Reina would be far away from Pathos for the time being.

Even the gods watching over her wouldn’t know when she would return.

Perhaps, when she meets Pathos again in the distant future, an opportunity might arise for her?

That would only be known when the time comes.